SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

description

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of description

1 a vivid representation in words of someone or something

We immediately recognized the man from our cousin's description of him.

Synonyms of description

definition, delineation, depiction, picture, portrait, portraiture, portrayal, rendering, sketch, vignette

Words Related to description

account, anecdote, chronicle, narrative, report, story, tale, yarn

demonstration, exemplification, illustration

clarification, elucidation, explanation, explication, exposition

2 a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common

fixes small appliances and other things of that description

Synonyms of description

breed, class, feather, genre, ilk, kind, like, manner, nature, order, sort, species, strain, stripe, type, variety

Words Related to description

sample, specimen

bracket, bunch, category, division, family, grade, group, grouping, lot, persuasion, rank(s), set, suite

Synonym Discussion of description

type, kind, sort, nature, description, character mean a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities. type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

- one of three basic body types

kind may suggest natural grouping.

- a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

sort often suggests some disparagement.

- the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

- two problems of a similar nature

description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

- not all acts of that description are actually illegal

character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

- research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

Learn More about description

See words that rhyme with description Dictionary: Definition of description Spanish Central: Translation of description Nglish: Translation of description for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of description for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about description

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up description? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

grudging

play

unwilling or reluctant

Words at Play

Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

When English borrows from another alphabet

alt-5ada140ed3e28

'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

alt-5ad8fc71357ed

Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

No, it's not a coiffure trend

alt-5ad8d3361fb97

Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

You're on the edge of your seat

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066

Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally

Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz

cats-on-impossible-timber

More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

Take the quiz

SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game